Wear-resistant, fully embedded node for extending the life of polyurethane used in restoring shoes

ABSTRACT

A structure for a wear-resistant, fully embedded node intended to extend the life of polyurethane used for restoring shoes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to the design of a wear-resistant, fully embedded node for extending the life of polyurethane used in shoe repair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Restoring worn down shoes has been a preoccupation for thousands of years. Historical innovations in this space have included the use of rubber (U.S. Pat. No. 351,572A) and metal (U.S. Pat. No. 238,946A, U.S. Pat. No. 279,559A) among other materials. Myriad rubber and plastic formulations have further added to the available options. Given the ubiquitous nature of the problem, and the many proffered solutions, it is difficult to imagine further innovative developments. Nevertheless, the present revelation offers a novel approach with a carefully nuanced point of distinction. Crucially, it is relevant only to a specific, defined method of repair which does not involve affixing a patch or a plate to the shoe, where such patch or plate is intended to be immediately walked upon (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 889,383A). Perhaps the closest previous disclosure, U.S. Pat. No. 1,387,243A, is for a “wear resisting element or member . . . of special form which is embedded or inserted in the heel body during its manufacture.” The present disclosure, by contrast, concerns shoe repair, not shoe manufacture. Moreover, the wear resisting element previously disclosed was not intended to remain initially unexposed to wear, whereas the wear resisting element presently disclosed is intended to remain initially unexposed to wear.

The present disclosure concerns the design of a wear-resistant, fully embedded node intended to extend the life of polyurethane used for the restoration of shoe heels and soles. This wear-resistant node is fully submerged in a pool of specially formulated polyurethane which has been applied to the shoe. The polyurethane fully infills the worn away part of the shoe, and completely covers the wear-resistant node. Use of the shoe over time causes slow abrasion of the polyurethane, eventually exposing only the outermost layer of the wear-resistant node. Gradually by this means, a level, mosaic outsole is created, with defined areas of extreme wear resistance and specifically desired shoe traction.

The mosaic outsole created by the initial wearing process comprises both the exposed profile of the node and its polyurethane surrounds. This unique walking surface of the shoe does not snag carpets, does not scratch wooden floors, and is not overly slippery or noisy on solid pavement.

Polyurethane protected in this way is resistant to further wear. Importantly, by virtue of its outermost profile and anchorage features, the node will not easily dislodge from the polyurethane. The anchorage features include external and/or internal flanges/textures/profiles/flares that act as footings to bind the node to the polyurethane.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This section is not intended as a comprehensive disclosure of all features of the invention. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

In one form the present disclosure illustrates a wear-resistant, embedded node for extending the life of polyurethane used in restoring shoes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing described herein is for illustrative purposes only of a selected embodiment and not all possible implementations, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wear-resistant, polyurethane-protecting node. The illustration shows the node oriented as it would be when placed on the heel or sole of the inverted shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An example embodiment will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing. This example embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be clearly understood and will fully convey the essence to those who are skilled in the art. While numerous specific details are set forth here, including examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of an example embodiment of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that not all possible variations and alternative forms have been cited. The alternative forms that have been included should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In the example embodiment well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies have not been described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing a particular example embodiment only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer it may be directly on, engaged, connected, or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “embedded in,” “directly on,” or “directly engaged to,” or “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements of layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus may incorporate a solid or hollow structure 1 of many potential sizes, shapes, thicknesses, and materials. The apparatus may incorporate one or more external flanges/textures/profiles/flares 2 and 3 at various points along its outer surface. In addition, the apparatus may incorporate one or more internal flanges/textures/profiles/flares 4 at various positions within one or more hollows of the apparatus. The function of all such flanges/textures/profiles/flares, be they external or internal, is to bind the apparatus to the polyurethane. The outermost surface 5 of such apparatus is either smooth or textured, to provide specifically desired shoe traction. This outermost surface 5, shown at the top in FIG. 1, is intended to be the first part of the apparatus that is eventually exposed to the floor, pavement, ground, or other walking surface.

The foregoing description of the embodiment has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. 

1. A structure for a wear-resistant, fully embedded node for extending the life of polyurethane used in shoe repair, wherein said wear-resistant node is fully submerged in polyurethane and only gradually exposed to wear.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said wear-resistant node incorporates external, and/or internal flanges/textures/profiles/flares designed to anchor the node to the polyurethane.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said wear-resistant node includes either a smooth or a textured profile on the outermost surface, to provide a specifically desired shoe traction. 